Froch – “I’m Going to Be the Last Man Standing” – News
July 14th, 2009
Photo: Tom Casino – By Scott Gilfoid: You got to like World Boxing Council super middleweight champion Carl Froch’s confidence, even if he might be a little deluded about himself. Froch, 31, will be the first fight as part of Showtime’s six-man tournament that starts in October with Froch taking on top super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell (18-0, 13 KO’s) on the 10th of October. “I’m going to be the last man standing,” Froch said with conviction.
I can’t say I’m surprised by that, because a lot of British boxing fans don’t have clue one as to who Dirrell is. Some of them seem to assume because they’re not familiar with him that it means that Froch will beat him. You know, kind of along the same lines as the stuff many of them were spouting about Enzo Maccarinelli beating Ola Afolabi before their bout a few months ago.
As it turned out, Afolabi ended up crushing Maccarinelli without too many problems and gave a lot of British fans an education in the process. I suspect that the same thing will happen with Dirrell beating the pants of the slow-fisted Froch.
While Froch holds down a belt, he’s not much of a boxer and is known more for having heavy hands, a good chin and excellent stamina. That kind of thing works against the lesser fighters, but when Froch has to step it up a couple of classes on October 10th against Dirrell, he’s going to be in for a rude awakening.
Jermain Taylor already pretty much exposed Froch for being a limited fighter by boxing circles around him through the first have of their April 25th fight, knocking Froch to the canvas at one point. Dirrell, however, is even stronger and faster than Taylor and doesn’t have problems with running out of gas like Taylor does.
This is going to be a slaughter mark my words. Froch is going to take a major beating and will be extremely fortunate if he can win even one round against Dirrell. I like Froch a lot as a fighter. He’s kind of like a Rocky Balboa type fighter, one of those blue collar fighters that don’t have a lot of talent but get over by having a strong chin and a lot of persistence. That won’t work against a fighter with a ton of class like Dirrell, though.
I hate to burst Froch’s bubble, but I don’t think Kessler will make it past the likes of Andre Ward or Dirrell either for that matter. Kessler was already beaten by Joe Calzaghe, a fighter that I think would lose to both Ward and Dirrell. However, Calzaghe retired suddenly just as both of them emerged from the pack and became top contenders.
As for Froch, he’ll be beaten down into the pack and sent down to contender status after Dirrell and others get a hold of him. I think Froch is good enough to beat Arthur Abraham, a smallish 5’10” middleweight that is moving up to take part in the tournament. However, beyond that, that’s about all I can see Froch doing in the tourney.
Taylor will beat him next time out by boxing him, so Froch won’t be able to depend on getting a win over him. Besides, I think Froch is going to be badly softened up by a loss to Dirrell and will take a lot of punishment in that fight in the way of head shots.
Tags: 22 Responses to “Froch – “I’m Going to Be the Last Man Standing” – News”
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Nice to see your not generalizing, shakes head.
Im British and i have seen Dirrell vs Hanshaw, Oganov, Findley, Paschal, Rocha, Kost but i just dont think this fight will be a walk in the park that you think it will be just because there is a disparity in skillset.
Does Dirrell have the ability school Froch badly? yes
Does Dirrell have a major advantage in speed? yes
Does Froch have any kind of chance? yes, why? because Dirrell does an awful lot of backing up and if he does this against someone as consistent as Froch and gives him momentum by backing up he could be in trouble, he has also been hurt by a journeyman before, he is also less experienced at this level, that said if he keeps the fight in the centre of the ring he wins.
Next time trying not to discriminate against all Brits. I dont care who win because im not a big fan of either.
Leave Calzaghe alone Scott, he doesnt fancy you back, and he has retired, hes old, leave it.
He beat Kessler, and Kessler is the pick of the above bunch.
Dirrell is the more gifted fighter, he’s quicker more skillfull and technically better…. but you dont win a fight by looking good, i believe froch will be able to take dirrells shots and out muscle him. dirrel hasn’t faced anyone nearly as tough as pascal or taylor. the latter i admit did out box him but froch under performed in that fight and i think youll see a better performance next time. frochs power and great chin will be the undoing of dirrell. my prediction tko round 8.
Froch is at it again,mouthing off!!
Kessler will wipe the floor with this fella
Im no boxing buff far from it but how dare this man say both Ward and Dirrell could beat calzaghe. I think it will be froch who is much more than a rocky balboa type fighter and kessler in the final fight. Does anyone know if the fights be shown on british tv
I have to be honest, I was very gutted Joe retired, but on the flip side, he had nothing else to prove. He beat the best and will always be remembered as the best unbeaten British fighter. Kessler is a great fighter and Joe beat him. I love Carl Froch and really wouldn’t like to call the fight against Kessler and Froch, but if i had to give my prediction, it would have to go to Kessler. I also have to agree with Brandon for his comments. Best of luck to all the fighters, let’s see who will be right.
I’m a very proud American amateur boxer, with that said I think the Europeans will shine in this tournament. Whether it be Froch, Kessler, or even Abraham. Oh and Calzaghe would’ve destroyed Ward and Dirrell. Emanuel Steward who knows more about boxing than just about anyone said last year that he didn’t think anyone could beat Joe. So get over it. He retired as one of the best in the game.
#8, I agree. There is too much bias on this website
So you think Froch is a bum and Dirrell (who hasnt fought anyone) will destroy him. Dirrell is a good fighter but hes not Roy Jones. He doesnt have the power and Froch will outlast him by late tko/ko or decision. I like Andre Ward but you think he will easily beat Kessler? Get real. I seriously think that we should start a petition to get these idiots off OUR boxing website. Perez and Gilford are biased mugs. Im sure several of us could do better articles.
I think a lot of you are going to be surprised by how well Ward does in this tournament. That, or I’m going to look like I don’t know what I’m talking about and it certainly wouldn’t be the first time I traveled down that road.
The tournament will be be valuable experience for both Ward and Dirrell but they lack the aforementioned and will be beat by the more seasoned Froch, Kessler and Taylor. Forget about Abraham as he is a non-entity. Taylor is virtually shot, so its a toss up betweeen Froch and Kessler. My heart says Froch but my head says Kessler. Gonna go with the heart and pick Froch.
Ward looked like crap against Miranda, even though Miranda was showing no offense. Dirrell hasn’t fought any class A fighters. Pressure beat Taylor as a middleweight, and it’s going to be his downfall as a super middleweight. I wouldn’t be surprised if this comes down to Froch and Abraham.
froch to knock every1 out thn calzaghe vs froch
xxx
loooooooool this geezer is a rite mug
I cant pick a winner, but I would put Dirrel and Ward as the less likely opponents to win.
Froch and Kessler are the strongest out of the bunch. So maybe one of them will pull it out.
Scott, i love your article.
In the sense that Froch will show you up AGAIN.
BOBBY
you need to realize froch beat taylor end of
Scott you are an idiot. Stop kissing Dirrells ass and get real. He is the weak link of the tournament. I admit Froch shouldve lost to Taylor but he won so give him credit for that. Ive seen articles like this too much on this website. Hate on a boxer then go quiet when he wins. Give Froch some credit. Even if hes not hugely impressed you. Hes beaten alot better fighters than your boy Dirrell
Froch needs to realize he was losing to taylor and because of taylor not playing it safe GAVE him the win. Prediction froch wont win a single fight.
First of all Scott, Ofalebi is a BRITISH fighter based in the USA, so your article as always is based on bending the truth.
Who exactly do Direll and Ward have on their records that justify lavishing such praise on them? Nothin but journeymen, im afraid Froch vs Dirrell is going to turn ou t like Khan vs Prescott but with Dirrell on his a*se in the first round.
PS Ward to beat Kessler?! HA HA HA HA HA HA
Great article Scott, nothing like the one you wrote yesterday at all.
Sarcasm aside cuz i dont think Scott would get it anyway, Kessler will be the last man standing.
Hes the best Super Middle by a long way, which is why everybodys neatly side stepped him for years. Especially the Americans.
Though Calzaghe beat him because he was better than him, something which Kessler, like the model profesional he is, acknowledged gracefully.
Didn’t you say that Taylor would crush Froch last time out? That must have been a bit embarassing for you Scott.
By the way, this article is racist and I will be reporting it to the editor.